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Topic: is my theory sound? (Read 4540 times)

im 3 AG batches deep and my beers have been very watery unfortunately. The second one i mashed at 155 and i still got a FG of 1.007 (og 15 brix). I have been batch sparging w/o mashout. im wondering if not mashing out is the culprit as the grains temp lowers as i recirculate and sparge possibly converting the higher sugars and dextrins to light sugars while doing so. could this be the issue?

How long is the mash and is the temperature maintained throughout. If the mash temps are decreasing to 150ish for an extended period of time, that will increase the fermentability of the wort as well. As Tom said, need more info.

My first thought was that your thermometer might be off. I used to use a probe-style oven thermometer and so did my friend (different brand). Neither was calibrated. One day we were brewing together and my thermometer was reading 10 degrees higher than his! That could put your mash in the 140s.

But as said, we really need more info. I batch sparge without a mashout though, so I can tell you that alone is not the problem.

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Have you been hitting your target OG? How are you measuring your gravities - is your hydrometer accurate? If these are your first few AG batches, maybe you aren't hitting your target efficiency. If you're starting low, then that would explain why you're finishing low.

If the mash temps are decreasing to 150ish for an extended period of time, that will increase the fermentability of the wort as well.

Red, I don't think it works that way, as the beta amylase enzymes are denatured already from the higher temp mash in.As you both said, need more recipe info.

Jeff. The beta amylase enzymes will not be comepletely denatured at 155F. They will work in tandem with alpha amylase to further break down starch molecules. "The optimal pH range for beta amylase between 5.4 and 5.6 and the optimal temperature range is between 140ºF (60ºC) and 150ºF (65ºC). Above 160ºF (70ºC) beta amylase is quickly deactivated [Narziss, 2005]. "

i don't think the higher mash temps denature the enzymes immediately. And I don't think mash out tmeps are really necessary in homebrewing, unless you are performing a 3 hour mash. The temp drop could be a problem, one easily rectifiable by adding a gallon or so or boiling water mid way through.

Interestingly enough, "thin beer" is a common complaint to those new to AG brewing. I wonder how often it is that they are used to heavy and underattenuated extract brewing. That said, 1.007 is pretty darn low. But are you sure you hydrometer is calibrated correctly? Are you sure your thermometers are calibrated correctly?

Like everybody else said, 155° shouldn't really give you thin / watery beer. If you are attenuating down to 1007, you are probably mashing at perhaps very low gravities. 155° mash will create less fermentable sugars and more dextrins, etc. 1007 is super low for such a mash temp but this all depends on OG.

Like everybody else said, you are either mis-calculating the temp or mashing lower gravities than you think you are. Your mash efficiency might be the problem so many increase your grains to account for that if you truly believe your temps are correct...

Other than that, I'm not sure what else it could be. Recipes, pH, OG might give us a better understanding of the problem.